Attachments for an envelope handling machine



Oct. 15, 1963 L. B. LARSON ATTACHMENTS FOR ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LESL/E B. LARSON ATTORNEYS Oct. 15, 1963 LARSON 3,106,877

ATTACHMENTS FOR ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LESL/E B. LARSON ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,106,877 Patented Oct. 15, 1963 The present application relates to attachmentsfor an envelope handling machine, particularly an attachment wherein the envelope is reversed in its direction of travel so as to fold the envelope flaps reversely upon the front of the envelope.

Numerous previous inventors have developed attachments for envelope handling machines wherein a plurality of folding, addressing, stamping and other manual functions may be performed automatically. Heretofore, reverse flap folding of large numbers of envelopes in order that they may be stulfed or filled has presented a particularly burdensome sequence in an envelope mailing operation. Inventor Novick (1,734,742) is typical of the art wherein a deflecting blade is utilized together with compressing rollers to fold back an envelope flap. As the envelope continues in the same direction of travel. According to the present invention, complex parts and easily damaged moving parts are eliminated and means are provided for reversing the direction of travel of the envelope in a horizontal path of conveyance while retaining its flap so that as the envelope is reversed in travel its flap is folded back on its reverse side. Top and bottom driving belts are supported conventionally in a housing upon transverse rollers so that the abutting tangential portions of the belts define a path for horizontal conveyance of the envelope. This reversal of flow or travel is performed by supporting one belt roller vertically spaced beneath the horizontal path of conveyance and above the bottom belt so as to define a medial cul de sac. The retaining of the envelope flaps during vertical tnavel of the envelope body into and out of the cul de sac is by a plural finger means attached to a cam which is synchronized with the belt driving means. As the bottom of envelope body touches the bottom of the cul de sac, a lifting arm returns to the top of the envelope body to the horizontal path for conveyance, the retained flap being reversely folded against the envelope body as the top of the envelope body leads through the path for conveyance.

Accordingly it is an object of invention to provide an apparatus for reversely folding envelope flaps without employing complex parts.

Anna object of invention is to provide an apparatus for uninterruptedly handling a volume of envelopes While reversely folding their flaps.

Another object of invention is to provide an apparatus for changing the direction of travel of an envelope during continuous conveyance.

Yet, additional objects of invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective of the receiving end of the machine, showing flap engaging fingers 72 and envelope lifting arm 76.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the entire attachment, showing chain driving means engaging the driving rollers, and a delivery table 86 supported at the exit end;

FIG. 3 is a front schematic view showing travel of the envelopebetween top driving belt 94 and lower driving belt 96 defining the path of holizontal conveyance and into the cul de sac defined by rollers 82 vertically spaced from the path and engaging the top of lower driving belt 96-; and

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective with the rear plate re moved, showing the travel of the envelope body bottom leading through the path of horizontal conveyance, into the cul de sac and travel body top leading out of the cul de sac and back into the path with flap 102 reversely folded.

In FIG. 1 envelope handling machine attachment 10 is illustrated as comprising a rear plate 12 and front plate 14 which define a semi circular housing. A rear chain drive means 16 is shown as engaging driving sprockets 82 which are attached in turn to a plurality of horizontal shafts upon which flanged pulleys 88 are attached for engaging the top and bottom driving belts. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 an envelope 104 is presented between top driving belt 94 and lower driving belt 96 at point 50 and is thence conveyed by driving belts 52, 54, 5d and 58 through the path of horizontal conveyance in the housing. A cul de sac generally designated as 98 is provided medially of the horizonal path by the positioning of roller 82 vertically spaced beneath the general path of conveyance and engaging the top of belt 96-.

Power is supplied by driving shaft 24 which has attached there-to flanged pulleys 44 and 46. Spur gear 38 attached to shaft 24 drives corresponding spur gears 30, 32 and 34 secured respectively to horizontal shafts 42-, 44 and 46. Also attached to shaft 414 is sprocket 36 about which is encompassed chain .18 in turn driving cam 20 which is secured to shaft 22.

At the exit end of the housing sprocket 28 attached to shaft 60 is driven also by chain 16 and drives mitre gears 26 to which may be attached envelope receiving machinery, for example a counter or the like. Also, one or more envelope guide wires 62 may be supported transversely at the end of the housing for actuation by lever 64. Cam adjusting piece 100 is eccentrically positioned upon cam 20 by means of screws or the like and is connected to shaft 68 by means of drive links 66 and 67. Attached medially of shaft 68 by means of machine bolts 74 are the flap engaging fingers 72.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 a cam is secured at the end of shaft 68, lifting arm 76 being connected to cam 80 by means of intermediate links 77. At the bottom of lifting arm 76 a plurality of apertures 78 are provided for vertical positioning of limit pieces 70 which are thus adjustable to the width of the envelope being handled.

A plurality of feeder and guide bars 48 may be trans versely positioned throughout the apparatus.

During operation as cam 20 is caused to rotate, cam fingers 72 are reciprocally pivoted into and out of corn tact with roller 48 at the entryof cul de sac 98. Also, a sequential and vertical reciprocating movement is imparted to lifting arm 76.

As envelope 104 is conveyed body bottom leading to the entry edge of cul de sac the envelope is urged by fingers 72 downwardly into cul de sac 98 body bottom leading. Simultaneously, fingers 72 press and retain trailing envelope flap 102 against roller 48 as envelope 1% body bottom touches limit pieces 70, lifting arm 76 is raised while fingers 72 still retain flap 102. Then, envelope 104 body leading top is urged hack into the path of conveyance over roller 92 as fingers 72 release the flap 102 which is folded reversely between the driving belts. Thus, the direction of travel of envelope 104 is effectively reversed while flap .102 is folded backwardly of the envelope. Manifestly, depending upon the side which the envelope is presented to the apparatus, the flap may be folded either reversely, or conventionally on the back of the envelope. Envelope 104 continues to travel through the path of conveyance and into delivery table 86 Where conventional spirals may be employed for receiving of the envelope in a convenient upstanding posi- 3 tion. A counter (not illustrated) may be operated by a finger which engages the moving envelope and in turn moves a toothed sprocket operating the counting device.

As will be apparent, invention basically comprises means for reversing the direction of travel of the envelope While retaining the envelope flap so that the envelope flap trails the envelope and is folded reversely thereof. Manifestly, various changes in driving members, positioning of belts and the like, may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. An envelope handling machine comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a plurality of rollers transversely supported in said housing;

(c) at least two belts supported on several of said rollers one above the other so that an abutting portion of the path of rotation defines a path for horizontal conveyance of envelopes;

(d) means driving said rollers;

(e) a lower roller vertically spaced beneath said path for horizontal conveyance and engaging the top of the lower of said belts so as to define a cul de sac in said path for horizontal conveyance;

(f) cam finger means reciprocable into and out of said path against the roller nearest the entrance of said cul de sac, so as to retain an envelope flap against said roller as the envelope descends vertically into said cul de sac; and (g) a lifting arm linked to said cam and supported transversely of said housing at the bottom of said cul de sac, said lifting arm reciprocating vertically with said cam so as to lift said envelope back into said path for said horizontal conveyance. 2. An envelope machine as in claim 1, said lifting arm being vertically adjustable to the width of said envelope.

3. An envelope handling machine as in claim 2, including means synchronizing said cam finger means and said lifting arm so that lifting of said envelope occurs sequentially of retaining of said flap by said cam finger means.

4. An envelope handling machine as in claim 3 including a delivery table supported at the exit of said path for horizontal conveyance.

References ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 911,542 Owens Feb. 2, 1909 2,307,907 Becker Jan. 12, 1943 2,800,841 Welsh July 30, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 126,864 Australia Feb. 16, 1948 1,118,590 Germany Nov. 30, 1961 

1. AN ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING; (B) A PLURALITY OF ROLLERS TRANSVERSELY SUPPORTED IN SAID HOUSING; (C) AT LEAST TWO BELTS SUPPORTED ON SEVERAL OF SAID ROLLERS ONE ABOVE THE OTHER SO THAT AN ABUTTING PORTION OF THE PATH OF ROTATION DEFINES A PATH FOR HORIZONTAL CONVEYANCE OF ENVELOPES; (D) MEANS DRIVING SAID ROLLERS; (E) A LOWER ROLLER VERTICALLY SPACED BENEATH SAID PATH FOR HORIZONTAL CONVEYANCE AND ENGAGING THE TOP OF THE LOWER OF SAID BELTS SO AS TO DEFINE A CUL DE SAC IN SAID PATH FOR HORIZONTAL CONVEYANCE; (F) CAM FINGER MEANS RECIPROCABLE INTO AND OUT OF SAID PATH AGAINST THE ROLLER NEAREST THE ENTRANCE OF SAID CUL DE SAC, SO AS TO RETAIN AN ENVELOPE FLAP AGAINST SAID ROLLER AS THE ENVELOPE DESCENDS VERTICALLY INTO SAID CUL DE SAC; AND 